Converse Athletics and Athletic Director Joy Couch is pleased to announce Dean Walsh as the new Head Coach of the Valkyries Basketball program effective immediately.
“We wanted to bring in someone that shared the same aspirations and goals for our program and continue to move forward in a positive direction,” stated Joy Couch. “His successes at this level and in the region are important as we continue to build our basketball program. We are thrilled to have Dean Walsh join our staff and we are excited to see what he can provide for the Valkyries family and community.”
“I want to thank Joy Couch and everyone involved for affording me the opportunity to lead this basketball program,” said Dean Walsh. “Our focus will be to continue developing individual skill sets and growing the player, which in turn will lead to success both on and off the court. In order for success to happen we all must don the hard hats and gloves and go to work. Our commitment to this will determine how far we go and what level of success we will achieve.”
Walsh comes to Converse after a stint as Assistant Coach at Austin Peay State in Tennessee and as Associate Head Coach at Gardner-Webb in North Carolina. Walsh helped in recruiting and oversaw and coordinated community programs among other duties in both programs. At Austin Peay, Walsh helped Tearra Banks be named to the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer Team.
Coach Walsh is notably known for his tenure at Carson-Newman, where he amassed 172 victories and won over 58 percent of his contests. During the 2005 season, Walsh set the school record for victories in a single season (25), won the program’s first ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship, appeared in the NCAA Sweet 16, won SAC Coach of the Year and Region Coach of the Year.
Over his tenure at Carson-Newman, Walsh coached two All-Americans, two Freshman of the Year, Conference Player of the Year, 15 All-South Atlantic All-Conference members and seven All-SAC Freshman team members.
Prior to Carson-Newman, Dean returned to his alma mater, Maryville College in 1998 as the Head Coach. While at Maryville, Walsh was named Conference Coach of the Year and led them to a #16 national ranking. Walsh had two NCAA Appearances and an All-American.
Coach Walsh has a 100 percent graduation rate for his student-athletes that have exhausted their eligibility. Dean Walsh received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Pre-Law from Maryville College in 1989.
“With a foundation being set coupled with a good incoming freshman class, allows me and my staff to hit the ground running. We are eager and excited to implement a system and style that is player friendly and fun to watch.”
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